Laughing song

Sung by Milton Battles
Salem, Arkansas
April 23, 1958
Reel 236, Item 9
The Laughing Song
While strolling down the street one day,
I heard some people say,
There goes a coal-black niggah,
He's going far away.
When I turned around
To see what I could see,
There stood my true love,
She stepped right up to me.
Chorus:
And then I laughed (he laughs for 30 measures).
Well then she says, "You Negro,
You's not going far away,
Or if you do your mother
Will cry this livelong day.
Then she stepped up to me,
She took me by the hand,
She says she is my honey,
Also, "You is my man."
Chorus:
And then I laughed (laughter).
"If you won't be my man,
I'll have no man at all."
She says, "You is my honey,
I love you best of all."
Then I popped the question,
You cain't guess what she said.
We married the very next day,
Was the words old Milton said.
Chorus:
And then I laughed (laughter).
'Cause it ain't a-goin' to rain any more.
Collected by Max Hunter
Transcribed by Frances Majors

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Sung by Milton Battles
Salem, Arkansas
April 23, 1958
Reel 236, Item 9
The Laughing Song
While strolling down the street one day,
I heard some people say,
There goes a coal-black niggah,
He's going far away.
When I turned around
To see what I could see,
There stood my true love,
She stepped right up to me.
Chorus:
And then I laughed (he laughs for 30 measures).
Well then she says, "You Negro,
You's not going far away,
Or if you do your mother
Will cry this livelong day.
Then she stepped up to me,
She took me by the hand,
She says she is my honey,
Also, "You is my man."
Chorus:
And then I laughed (laughter).
"If you won't be my man,
I'll have no man at all."
She says, "You is my honey,
I love you best of all."
Then I popped the question,
You cain't guess what she said.
We married the very next day,
Was the words old Milton said.
Chorus:
And then I laughed (laughter).
'Cause it ain't a-goin' to rain any more.
Collected by Max Hunter
Transcribed by Frances Majors